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He added that there was 'no physical side to it after December of 2009.'

Hughes-Games admitted to having sexual intercourse with her prior to December 2009, when she was still a pupil at the school.

Employed by the school since 2003, Hughes-Games was called into a disciplinary meeting in April 2009 after it emerged the girl had been visiting his home.

Confession: Hughes-Games (pictured) said there had been 'a sexual side' from early on but claimed the relationship was platonic for four of the five years

The pair denied they were in a sexual relationship, and the school let him off with a written warning.

But just two months later, he was spotted socialising again with the girl a pub.

Hughes-Games insisted there was no sexual relationship, and received a final warning. He finally resigned in 2015.

Hughes-Games is now a church leader - working as the music director for St Peter's Henleaze, and the co-music leader at Foundation, a Christian community group in Bristol.

LAW CHANGE MAKING IT ILLEGAL TO SLEEP WITH PUPILS OVER 16

In 2001, the law was changed to make it illegal for teachers to engage in sexual activity with pupils at their school aged under 18.

The 'abuse of trust' legislation made it illegals for teachers to engage in any sexual activity people aged 16 or 17, carrying a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

It has had limited criticism, with NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates calling it a legal 'anomoly' in 2008, claiming the law was wrong.

Although the comments were slammed by children's charities, with the NSPCC saying the law is there 'quite rightly, to protect children'.

He admitted lying to John Cabot Academy, concealing a sexual relationship with Pupil A so he could continue to work at the school.

The panel heard he described getting into the affair as 'irresponsible, immoral and the wrong thing to do', but 'believed that the relationship would last.'

Hughes-Games added that he 'thought the risk's worth taking.'

The NCTL panel found his actions dishonest and of a sexual nature.

Handing him a prohibition order, NCTL panel chair Nicolé Jackson said: 'Mr Hughes-Games stated that he told the Principal that he had not been in a relationship as he wished to move on and regain the trust of his employer.

'Mr Hughes-Games was seeking to conceal the relationship so that he could continue to work at the Academy.

'[He] continued to engage in a sexual relationship with her whilst subject to the two formal warnings.

'A prohibition order should be imposed with immediate effect.'

Hughes-Games, who is not present at the hearing, was banned from the profession indefinitely.